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Staff Spotlights

Spring 2022 Staff Spotlight- Khalil Garcia

KHALIL GARCIA

Academic Program Specialist

Student Services Department

“Front Desk” at USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus


How long have you been at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus?
7 months as of February 25th!  

Tell us what you do here for USF!

My role is help connect students and guests with our student success team, and direct students to resources in admissions, academic advising, registrar, financial aid, career services, cashiers’ office, student engagement, student government, and veteran services. My colleague, Karen, and I also answer phone calls answering questions that go from general questions regarding the university to assisting students with arranging appointments with their advisors.

What do you like most about your job?
By far it has to be our Student Services Team. It’s one thing to work in a secure space greeting friendly faces, but it’s another to also be surrounded by amazing team members from different professional backgrounds that often enjoy each other’s company. We challenge each other to be better for our students. *Special shout out to my immediate colleagues Karen Boston and Darren Gambrell!

What's the best thing about working at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus?
After a long year of virtual encounters with friends and loved ones, I would say my favorite part about this role is connecting with everyone in person once again, especially the students. Providing 1-on-1 support is the most rewarding thing I get out of this job that fulfills me every day.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
If would have to be between mastering every instrument in existence or mastering every language known to man.

Favorite job you ever held?
Between this position and a temporary role as a social media/PR intern for La Menagere in Florence, Italy. I love the flexibility as an Academic Program Specialist. I can either send a Teams message or just walk next door to ask a question/receive input.

What do you like to do in your free time?
During my free time I love socializing with my friends and family, volunteering, playing basketball, catching up on marvel or anime and playing music.

What's your favorite restaurant/hidden gem in the area? 
My favorite restaurant in the area would have to be C&K Barbecue, which surprisingly is a hidden gem for most Floridians living in the Sarasota/Manatee County area.  

Most memorable experience/day you've had on the job?
Last year’s Thanksgiving Potluck was definitely special to be a part of due to the amount of staff, faculty and students that all came out at the same time. Although it was busy within the main rotunda, I love seeing everyone together and enjoying the atmosphere.  

Fall 2021 Staff Spotlight- Dr. Cayla Lanier

CAYLA LANIER
Campus Director 
Judy Genshaft Honors College


How long have you been at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus?
1.5 years, since July 2020

What do you like most about your job?
I love the ability to constantly focus on something new, so I enjoy having lots of different hats to wear. I absolutely love working directly with our students to mentor their academic and personal growth.

What's the best thing about working at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus?
Being greeted warmly every morning by our caring welcome desk staff.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Play the piano. I never dedicated myself to learning an instrument and I am always in awe when listening to musicians play.

Favorite job you ever held?
Other than this one? In graduate school, I worked at a makeup counter to pay my bills and learned a lot about self-image and the social constructs of beauty. One day, I helped a woman learn to draw eyebrows after she lost her hair during chemo treatment. With a quick lesson and a $10 makeup pencil, she regained the confidence and femininity she had lost to cancer and I felt as good as if I had cured the caner itself.

What do you like to do in your free time?
We bought a house during Covid, and have been busy undertaking small home renovations ever since. I'm currently undertaking the tedious process of swapping out all the mismatching almond and black switches and outlets to a consistent, clean, white. Next up... door knobs! The excitement never ends.

What's your favorite restaurant/hidden gem in the area? 
I'm new to this area. Please feel free to invite me to join you at your favorite spot for a breakfast or lunch meeting. I love eating and trying new cuisines and places. 

Most memorable experience/day you've had on the job?
Last December, when Dr. Holbrook shared her bird pictures in the campus town hall meeting. I loved seeing her evident passion and care for the birds in her yard, and enjoyed learning about the different birds in our area. Despite the virtual format, I felt closely connected with everyone on campus as we delighted in her presentation. 

March 2020 Staff Spotlight - Lana Rusch


LANA RUSCH
Fiscal & Business Specialist
Purchasing & Auxiliary Services
How long have you been at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus? 
I have been at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus since January 2014.

What do you like most about your job? 
What I like most about my job is that I have a variety of responsibilities to keep me busy - it is never boring.

What's the best thing about working at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus?
The best thing about working at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus is the people - the people I work with make working here a pleasure.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? 
If I could learn to do anything, I would enjoy learning to fly a plane.

Favorite job you ever held?
My favorite job is volunteering at my church - I plan to do more of it when I retire.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to spend my time at the beach.

What's your favorite restaurant/hidden gem in the area?
My favorite restaurant is Pier 22.

Most memorable experience/day you've had on the job?
My most memorable experience on the job is when they remodeled our area - my former "office" was turned into a closet and I moved into a new office that has room to function more efficiently.

January 2020 Staff Spotlight - Bart Stucker

Bart Stucker
Office of Student Engagement
Coordinator of Orientation & Recreation Programs

How long have you been at USF Sarasota-Manatee?

3 years, 4 months

What do you like most about your job?

I think what I like most about my job is seeing some of the faces that went through Orientation a semester, year, or 2 years ago decide to apply to serve as part of our Community Leader team. It's always nice to hear that their Orientation experience was one of the driving reasons they wanted to be a part of the CL team.

What’s the best thing about working at USF Sarasota-Manatee?

I think the best thing about working at USF Sarasota-Manatee is the fact that I have had the opportunity to play an instrumental role in developing and executing programs/ideas outside of my normal job responsibilities. A great example of this is the Inaugural Reverse Career Fair, which I collaborated heavily on with Ben Hyland.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

This is a really tough question, but I would say flipping houses. I watch a lot of HGTV at home and am always amazed by shows like that.

Favorite job you ever held?

Although it was a temporary job, I worked briefly with ESPN's production team and held a "boom" mic on the sidelines during the 2013-2014 Indiana State University football season.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Although I am extroverted while in the office, I definitely like being able to spend time alone or with a smaller group of friends. I play a lot of video games (Nintendo Switch), checking out new restaurants in Sarasota, and going on brewery tours.

What’s your favorite restaurant/hidden gem in the area?

Shelf Indulgence (a used bookstore) is probably one of my favorite hidden gems in the area. I enjoy hanging out there, enjoying coffee, and then walking next door to Leaf and Lentil, which is a neat little restaurant in town.

Most memorable experience/day you’ve had on the job?

I try to find at least one "memorable" thing from each of my work days. The MOST memorable experience has to be my first student vs. staff & faculty basketball game. The staff & faculty surprisingly put up a great fight against the students. We only lost by 12 points!

 

Fall 2019 Staff Spotlight- Sandy Justice

Sandy Justice
USF Sarasota-Manatee Office of Research
Senior Research Administrator

How long have you been at USF Sarasota-Manatee?  
Just over 2 years

What do you like most about your job? 
I most enjoy working with faculty to develop comprehensive, competitive grant proposals. It is so fun to participate in the grant development process, crafting meaningful funding requests and to collaborate with professors on compelling grant applications that will, when funded, move their field forward.

What’s the best thing about working at USF Sarasota-Manatee? 
There is so much to value about working at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Here, where the faculty-to-student ratio is extraordinary, providing our students with a private-university experience at a public-university cost. I have been increasingly impressed by the “students first” mission that resonates in every hallway -- Welcome tiles in many languages on the floors reflecting our inclusive community, the Incredi-Bull Critical Thinking posters in the classrooms, and in our faculty and staff pride of place on Wear Green Wednesday.  

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?  
When Bill Gates was asked what he most feared, he responded that he didn’t want his brain to stop working. Lifelong learning is the key! Based on what I have read, cognitive stimulation (brain exercises) can help promote neuroplasticity. On my learning goal list: (1) Learn to crochet, which is both a practical skill and long admired creative art; and (2) Learn to play the piano. There is an elegant beauty in music that is easy to appreciate.

Favorite job you ever held?  
This one! Establishing a full service research office and cultivating the research culture on this campus continues to be fun and rewarding. In the last two years, I have been privileged to establish programs and initiatives that drive grant activity such as seed funding for pilot projects and equipment grants. The faculty participation at grant writing workshops are positive and motivating. It is a joy to work with smart and professional research interns and to see so much energy and enthusiasm at the USF Sarasota-Manatee Student Research Showcase. This is a great place to be! The USF Sarasota-Manatee staff and faculty have a shared commitment to our students and to the Sarasota-Manatee community. It is through our shared mission that, together, we can realize the vision for USF students to become global citizens, creative innovators and future leaders.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Not that a mother of two teenagers has a ton of "free time" – but on those rare occasions, I indulge in reading. Currently I am reading The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor. I am always looking for good book recommendations. If you are looking for a good read, check out Becoming by Michelle Obama and The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates.

What’s your favorite restaurant/hidden gem in the area?  
That would be a tie: the Rosemary & Thyme on Orange Avenue (amazing food and convenient to the Sarasota Opera House) and Pier 22 for a delicious dinner complimented by a wonderful view of the water.

Most memorable experience/day you’ve had on the job.   
In 2019, the USF Sarasota-Manatee Staff Council designed staff recognition awards, including the Distinguished Staff Award. This is an award created by and selected from the USF Sarasota-Manatee professional staff. The talented and dedicated professional staff on our campus are colleagues that I value and respect. At the award ceremony in April, I felt fortunate to be standing among those nominated. This day stands out as most memorable day because I was genuinely surprised, and deeply honored, to have won. To me, this was more than a prize as it confirmed a shared value for what we are all collectively building: a robust research enterprise for our home campus. Our "pride of place" is also reflected in the increasing number of Certified Research Administration (CRA-USF) at USF Sarasota-Manatee.

 

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